Eric Dier thinks Man Utd missed out on signing the greatest goalkeeper of all time

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Manchester United currently have a problem in the goalkeeping department.

Altay Bayindir made a mistake in the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League opener, and TBR Football understand Manchester United are open to selling Andre Onana this summer rather than reintroduce the Cameroon international to the starting XI.

Manchester United are working to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp as a solution.

However – in the midst of this goalkeeping crisis – Eric Dier has now suggested Manchester United actually missed out on the best glovesman ever in Manuel Neuer.

What Eric Dier said about Manuel Neuer

Speaking to Ben Foster on Fozcast, the England international shared what the German goalkeeper is like, having played with him at Bayern Munich.

Dier said: “The greatest of all time. It was an honour, honestly. I can’t even explain how good he was. You know the best part about him? He was 38 then and 39 now, and still unbelievable. After training, I would stay back for a game, just taking shots from the edge of the ‘D’ – I’d take a touch inside, shoot, and there he was in goal, saving everything.

“We’d laugh about it, but it was serious too, I was genuinely in awe. The first time I faced him feels like a long time ago now, but even then he was special. And I think people, especially in England, don’t fully understand just how good he really is. If you watched him week in, week out, even just for a season, you’d get it. I’ve not seen anything like it.”

Neuer can boast 266 clean sheets in 563 appearances for Bayern Munich, although it was his adventurousness when racing off his line and his bravery on the ball which made him stand out during his prime.

Pep Guardiola even famously wanted to use the 39-year-old in central midfield for a game while managing Bayern Munich, before Karl-Heinz Rummenigge opted to talk him out of the idea.

Sir Alex Ferguson wanted Manuel Neuer over David de Gea

Before David de Gea sealed a £17.8m move from Atletico Madrid to Manchester United in June 2011 – at the age of just 20 – Sir Alex Ferguson actually wanted Neuer first.

The 83-year-old revealed the story when speaking to Sky Sports (via ESPN) back in 2016, saying: “Eric Steele (Goalkeeping Coach) had been scouting David de Gea for quite a while, but then Neuer came on the scene at Schalke. I think Schalke would have been happy if we’d have gone and taken him.

“So, my problem was Eric because he was adamant that we must take De Gea. I said ‘Eric, the boy Neuer is the complete unit; he’s mature, his physique is unbelievable,’ and he says ‘yeah, but in three years’ time, De Gea will be better.’ I said ‘that’s a statement.’

“Eric and I went out to watch him (De Gea) against Valencia away, and the things he’d been speaking about – his agility, his confidence, his speed – were evident.

“Eric had been building a relationship with his parents, and was so adamant, that I had to trust him, and I’m glad I did, because he was right.”

De Gea, now aged 34, went on to make 545 appearances for Manchester United – keeping 190 clean sheets – before joining Fiorentina on a free transfer in August 2024 after his contract was not renewed.

In contrast, Neuer is still starting in goal for Bayern Munich to this day – despite the fact he will turn 40 in March.

De Gea undoubtedly delivered a string of sensational seasons for Manchester United, but in terms of longevity, perhaps Ferguson was correct to prefer Neuer to the Spaniard.